PLAYER PROFILE
T
he end of an era loomed large at
TPC Scottsdale last week. Phil
Mickelson – the world’s No.49
ranked player at the start of the
Phoenix Open – looked destined to drop out of
the Top-50 in the rankings for the first time in
24 years.
When Mickelson first cracked a spot in the
Top-50 in November 1993, Nick Faldo was
World No.1 and the reigning major winners
were Bernhard Langer (Masters), Lee
Janzen (U.S. Open), Greg Norman (Open
Championship) and Paul Azinger (US PGA).
Jordan Spieth was just four months old, Justin
Thomas was six months old and Jon Rahm
was a year away from being born.
But as he has done throughout his career,
the 47-year-old rose to the occasion. Buoyed
by the tens of thousands watching his every
move, he played his way into contention. A
second round 65 was followed by a 66 and he
ventured into Sunday a shot from the lead.
There are few more exciting players in world
golf to watch than Mickelson with the scent of
a win in his nostrils. In his 99th start since his
last victory – at the 2013 Open Championship
at Muirfield – ‘Lefty’ was looking to break
the drought. But the radar was askew over
the opening 14 holes and it wasn’t until he
collected a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th
that he became a threat to win the title.
Alas, his double-bogey on the 72nd hole
sucked the wind from the sails and dropped
into a tie for 5th. But his ranking rebounded
to No.41.
Fast-forward a week and the Mickelson
nostrils were flaring again as he inched his way
up the leaderboard, this time on the final ►
THERE ARE FEW MORE
EXCITING PLAYERS IN
WORLD GOLF TO WATCH
THAN MICKELSON WITH
THE SCENT OF A WIN IN HIS
NOSTRILS.